Our 2022 Senate Targets
Arizona: Mark Kelly
Meet Mark
Captain Mark Kelly is a retired U.S. Navy combat pilot, engineer, and NASA astronaut. He lives in Tucson with his wife, former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords.
In January 2013, in the wake of the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Mark and Gabby co-founded the organization ‘GIFFORDS,’ which unites veterans, law enforcement officials, gun owners, faith leaders, and Americans of all stripes to reduce gun violence and make our communities safer.
First elected to the US Senate in 2018, Mark has focused on providing Arizonians, not corporate PACs, with independent leadership focused on solving the problems we face. Learn more…
About Arizona
Incumbent: Mark Kelly (D)
2020 Presidential Results: Biden +0.3
Forecaster Rating: Toss-Up
After winning a special election in 2020 to fill out the remainder of the late Sen. John McCain’s term, Senator Mark Kelly is now vying for a full six-year term in a tougher political environment than he faced two years ago. The good news for Kelly is that in 2020 he significantly outperformed President Biden’s narrow victory, defeating incumbent GOP Senator Martha McSally 53-47%. Kelly also has maintained a stronger approval rating among Arizona voters than Biden and raised $9 million during the last quarter alone.
Georgia: Raphael Warnock
Meet Raphael
Reverend Raphael Warnock grew up in Kayton Homes public housing in Savannah. The family was short on money, but long on faith, love and humor. Raphael and his eleven brothers and sisters were taught the meaning of hard work.
When he enrolled at Morehouse College, Reverend Warnock didn’t know how he would pay the full tuition. With the help of low-interest student loans and Pell Grants Raphael graduated, earned a Ph.D., and was ordained in the ministry. He was chosen to serve as Senior Pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, the former pulpit of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He was the youngest pastor selected to serve in that leadership role at the historic church.
Reverend Warnock believes his impact does not stop at the church door, and has been an advocate to expand health care coverage and to ensure hardworking Georgians can make a living wage. Learn more…
About Georgia
Incumbent: Raphael Warnock (D)
2020 Presidential Results: Biden +0.2
Forecaster Rating: Toss-Up
Georgia was the most closely-divided state in the 2020 presidential election, and of course was the deciding state in giving Democrats their current trifecta in Washington. Now-incumbent Senator Raphael Warnock actually outperformed President Biden in his runoff victory that gave Democrats control of the Senate, defeating incumbent Senator Kelly Loeffler by 2% in a special election to fill a seat vacated by former Senator Johnny Isakson. Now, Senator Warnock must run for a full six year term in 2022, and polling has consistently shown a race just as competitive as in 2020. Warnock’s opponent is former football star Herschell Walker, who has near universal name ID and the coveted endorsement of Donald Trump. Nonetheless, Walker will have to contend with Warnock’s massive fundraising advantage, along with Stacey Abrams’ candidacy for Governor which will likely provide a much needed boost to Democratic turnout statewide.
Nevada: Catherine Cortez-Masto
Meet Catherine
Catherine Cortez Masto was born and raised in Las Vegas and has dedicated her life to fighting for and protecting Nevadans. While serving two terms as Nevada’s Attorney General, Catherine cracked down on crime, protected consumers, and worked closely with local law enforcement.
Since her election to the Senate in 2016, Catherine has delivered for Nevadans, working with Democrats, Republicans, and independents to get things done. She has consistently worked to protect Social Security and Medicare, fighting efforts to cut access to these critical programs. When the pandemic hit, Catherine helped secure loans and support to help small businesses keep their doors open and their employees paid, while delivering emergency relief to reopen schools and support students’ mental health. Learn more…
About Nevada
Incumbent: Catherine Cortez-Masto (D)
2020 Presidential Results: Biden +2.4
Forecaster Rating: Lean Democrat
At first glance, Nevada seems like friendlier territory for Democrats than many other key Senate states in 2022; Republicans have won just one of the past eight statewide elections in Nevada despite its reputation as a deeply purple battleground. Nonetheless, incumbent Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, who made history in 2016 as the first Latina ever elected the the US Senate, faces a tough re-election fight this year. After President Biden carried Nevada by a smaller than expected margin in 2020, his approval rating has dipped to below 40% in the state and Cortez-Masto regularly polls within the margin of error against her opponent Adam Laxalt. Laxalt, who notoriously supported Trump’s lawsuit to overturn the 2020 election results in Nevada, is an Army veteran who was the state’s unsuccessful Republican nominee for Governor in 2018.
North Carolina: Cheri Beasley
Meet Cheri
Raised by a trailblazing mom, Cheri learned the values of hard work, integrity, and justice from a young age. These values guided her work, first as a public defender and judge. In 2019, Cheri rose to become the first African American woman to serve as Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. As a judge, Cheri has always acted independently and without bias to uphold the law and keep communities safe – no matter the politics.
Throughout her service, Cheri protected constitutional rights and applied the law fairly and independently. She worked to make schools safe and strong, including working with law enforcement and educators to keep students in classrooms and out of the courtroom. She implemented paid family leave as Chief Justice to over 6,000 court employees to help people take care of their families and succeed in their jobs. Cheri created the first human trafficking court in North Carolina to hold traffickers accountable and support victims.
In the Senate she’ll put North Carolina first and bring with her the same values of hard work, integrity, and justice that have guided her life. Learn more…
About North Carolina
Incumbent: Richard Burr (R – retiring)
2020 Presidential Results: Trump +1.3
Forecaster Rating: Toss-Up
A quintessential swing state, North Carolina once again will help determine the balance of power in Washington in 2022. The Tar Heel State was one of the most competitive nationwide in 2020; Donald Trump and Republican Senator Richard Burr each won by less than 2%, while Democratic Governor Roy Cooper won re-election by less than 5%. Democrats are hoping to repeat Gov. Cooper’s success in 2022 — long time Republican Senator Richard Burr is retiring, giving Democrats one of their best chances to flip a Republican seat nationwide. Former State Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley is the Democratic nominee and boasts a strong electoral resume that includes two previous statewide victories.
Rep. Ted Budd defeated a strong field of Republican candidates to capture the GOP nomination in last week’s primary, largely thanks to the endorsement and support of Donald Trump. Budd has been narrowly leading or tied with Beasley in most polls (largely thanks to President Biden’s lukewarm approval in the state), but a large number of voters remain undecided, meaning a Democratic victory is entirely possible in November.
Pennsylvania: John Fetterman
Meet John
20 years ago, John came to Braddock, Pennsylvania to start a GED program. He became mayor, and for 13 years worked to build the once-booming steel town back from collapse. As Lieutenant Governor, John has transformed the position into a bully pulpit for criminal justice reform. He has led the fight to free the wrongfully convicted and give second chances to deserving longtime inmates, and championed the cause of legalizing marijuana on a historic tour of all 67 counties.
John doesn’t look like a typical politician, and more importantly, he doesn’t act like one. He supported legalizing marijuana before it was popular, officiated a same-sex marriage before it was legal, and pushed for single payer healthcare long before it was mainstream. The issues John is running on now are the same issues he’s been working on for the last two decades. Learn more…
About Pennsylvania
Incumbent: Pat Toomey (R – retiring)
2020 Presidential Results: Biden +1.2
Forecaster Rating: Lean Democrat
After putting Joe Biden over 270 electoral votes and delivering Democrats the White House in 2020, it’s only fitting that Pennsylvania will once again help decide which party is in power following the 2022 elections. Incumbent Republican Senator Pat Toomey is retiring, giving Democrats one of just two chances nationwide to flip a Senate seat in a state that President Biden won. Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman easily won a crowded Democratic primary, and many Democratic strategists and political pundits believe his background, attention to the state’s rural communities, and casual manner may help erode Republicans’ recent gains in rural counties statewide. His opponent, celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz, had attracted notable scrutiny for his lack of ties to Pennsylvania and turbulent campaign.
Wisconsin: Mandela Barnes
Meet Mandela
The son of a school teacher and GM factory worker, Mandela was born and raised in Milwaukee in one of the most impoverished and incarcerated Zip codes in the state. After college, Mandela became a community organizer in his hometown where he fought to bring good jobs to the community. Frustrated by a lack of action from the lawmakers on the issues affecting working people and the middle class, Mandela decided to run for office. He became a Wisconsin State Representative at 27 and stood up to Scott Walker’s anti-union agenda. In 2018, Mandela helped Tony Evers kick Scott Walker out of office and, at 31, became Wisconsin’s first Black Lt. Governor — and only the second Black elected official statewide.
In the Senate, Mandela will bring a new perspective to Washington, to fight for opportunity for every child, person, and family in Wisconsin, regardless of their ZIP code. He will put middle class families first and stand up to the lobbyists and big corporations that have all the power in Washington. He will fight to create opportunity in every corner of Wisconsin, bring manufacturing back, create jobs by tackling climate change, and stand up for Wisconsin’s family farmers. Learn more…
About Wisconsin
Incumbent: Ron Johnson (R)
2020 Presidential Results: Biden +0.6
Forecaster Rating: Toss-Up
Wisconsin represents one of Democrats’ best opportunities to flip a Republican-held Senate seat in 2022. Republican Senator Ron Johnson is the only Senate incumbent nationwide running in a state won by the opposite party in the 2020 presidential election and is viewed favorably by just one-third of Wisconsin voters according to recent polling. An unabashed Trump ally, Johnson is currently one of the most polarizing figures in Washington. He’s advocated for mouth wash as a cure for COVID-19, questioned “what’s the point” of getting vaccinated for COVID-19 if you can still contract the virus, referred to January 6th insurrectionists as “people who love their country,” and repeatedly denied the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election results. Recent polling has shown Johnson tied with Democratic Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes, who has developed a significant fundraising advantage and has gained momentum on the campaign since winning a crowded Democratic primary.
